Bordeaux stay alive thanks to own-goal

Bordeaux kept their Champions League hopes alive with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Romanian side Cluj here on Wednesday.

Having lost 4-0 to Chelsea and 3-1 to AS Roma already in Group A, Laurent Blanc's side desperately needed three points and they were secured in bizarre fashion in the 53rd minute.

International playmaker Yoann Gourcuff crossed from the left and, though not a single Bordeaux player was in the penalty area, Cluj's Portuguese central defender Ricardo Cadu inexplicably got a touch to put the ball past his own keeper Eduard Stanclou.

Ten minutes later, there was almost an action replay but this time Stanclou was alert to the dangers.

With their noses in front, Bordeaux pinned their hopes on counter-attacks while the Romanians, who had stunned mighty Roma 2-1 in their opening clash and drawn 0-0 with Chelsea, looked to make the most of the space they were being afforded.

But the French side had the best opportunity to score again when substitute Wendel twice just had Stanclou to beat but the Brazilian squandered both efforts in the 77th minute.

Cluj pressed in the closing stages with Gabriel Muresan having a shot blocked while Didi missed the target in the 87th minute.

The Romanian team's misery was compounded when midfielder Eugen Trica was red-carded in the last minute.